Game 135: Loss

Astros 2 Mets 1

Um … hmmm … er …

How does a team hold its opponent to one hit, yet lose 2-1?

Not sure? Then go to MLB.com and download the video replay of Sunday baseball contest between the New York Metropolitans and the Houston Astros.

Other than his inability to throw strikes and subsequent lack of efficiency with pitches — 6 walks and 106 pitches, 59 for strikes, in 5 1/3 innings — El Duque pitched OK, holding the ‘Stros to one hit and one run. The bullpen was marvelous, giving up no hits over the last two and two-thirds innings, but Roberto Hernandez managed to give up a run on no hits.

The Mets batters, meanwhile, couldn’t do anything against Roy Oswalt, who dominated the Mets into the eighth inning. Which isn’t that big a deal, as Oswalt is the type of guy who can dominate just about anyone, when he’s on … which he was.

Notes

Guillermo Mota continues to impress … he pitched another nearly perfect inning. Darren Oliver also did well in a rare late-inning appearance.

Carlos Delgado had a big bomb — his 35th — in the ninth off Brad Lidge. The only other Met to muster an extra-base hit was Michael Tucker, pinch hitting in the eighth.